How to Celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

How to Celebrate the Ascension with Children
Feast Day: 40 Days After Easter (Traditionally a Thursday)

The Ascension of Jesus is such a beautiful and awe-inspiring moment in our faith. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days, and then He ascended into Heaven right before their eyes. What a sight that must have been!

This feast reminds us that Jesus didn’t just disappear. He went ahead of us to prepare a place in Heaven. Here are some hands-on ways to help children enter into the mystery of the Ascension:

Color and Craft the Ascension

Start with our Ascension coloring page to introduce the story visually and spark conversation. Then, try our Jesus Ascending Craft, a fun and interactive way for kids to see Jesus “rising” up into the clouds. 

Eat “Cloudy” Ascension Foods

Celebrate with foods that feel light, fluffy, and skyward-themed! Here are some fun and easy ideas:

• Cotton candy 
• Marshmallows or marshmallowy foods like pavlova, meringues
• Angel food cake with whipped cream and berries
• Cloud eggs (baked whipped egg whites with the yolk nestled in the middle) over toast
• Cloud Jello: layer blue jello and whipped cream in clear cups
• Root Beer Floats: vanilla ice cream covered with root beer. The ice cream rises to the top of the glass just like Jesus ascended into heaven.

You can use our Jesus Ascending Craft as a cake topper as well for your treat!

Jesus on a Balloon 

Helium balloons are a big hit with my kids, and this is one of those feast days where I go for it. You can attach our Jesus Ascending on a Cloud printable to the balloon string and let the balloon fly into the sky or float around your living room if you’re indoors. This can be such a simple visual of Jesus rising especially for little hearts and minds.

Read the Scripture Together

Take time to read the New Testament accounts of the Ascension like Luke 24:50–53
or Acts 1:6–11. After reading, talk about how the disciples must have felt. Were they surprised? Amazed? Confused? Hopeful? 

Take a Hike and Picnic at the Top

Traditionally, many Christians would hike a mountain or a hill on Ascension Day, echoing how Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives.

You can do something similar: plan a short family hike (or even a walk up a local hill) and enjoy a picnic at the top.